Flywheel assembly

a technology of flywheel and assembly, which is applied in the direction of mechanical equipment, electrical equipment, dynamo-electric machines, etc., can solve the problems of accelerating the degradation of grease and its lubricating properties, and achieve the effect of high vapour pressur

Active Publication Date: 2016-03-08
WILLIAMS HYBRID POWER
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This configuration maintains a stable low-pressure environment in the flywheel chamber, preventing degradation of the grease and ensuring the flywheel operates efficiently without overheating, while allowing the use of more commonly available and effective greases for the bearings.

Problems solved by technology

In a lower pressure environment, the grease will be liable to release gas or “off-gas” causing accelerated degradation of the grease and its lubricating properties.

Method used

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  • Flywheel assembly

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Embodiment Construction

[0015]The FIGURE shows a cross-sectional side view of an electrically driven flywheel assembly 2. A carbon fibre flywheel 4 is mounted on a central shaft 6 via a composite end cap 7 and enclosed within a housing 8. Permanent magnets 9 are carried on the inner circumferential surface of the flywheel and form the rotor of a brushless DC motor.

[0016]The motor stator 10 is carried by a stator mount 12 which extends inwardly from the housing. It may have a known laminated construction, with three phase coil windings (not shown). The stator is oil cooled.

[0017]The flywheel rotates in a first chamber 14 which is defined within the housing and contains a partial vacuum. The stator is separated from the first chamber by a glass fibre can 16. The shaft 6 is rotatably supported by first and second bearings 18, 20. Each bearing comprises a plurality of ball bearings held between an inner race mounted on the shaft and an outer race supported on an inner surface of a cylindrical hub 22. Single be...

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Abstract

A flywheel assembly is described which is suitable for use as a compact power storage device. The assembly comprises a housing, a flywheel coupled to a shaft which is rotatably mounted in the housing via bearings, a primary chamber which is defined within the housing and contains the flywheel, and a secondary chamber which is defined within the housing and contains the bearings. Furthermore, it includes a molecular pump driven by the shaft for pumping gas molecules from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber. Location of the bearings in a high pressure chamber inhibits off-gassing from the bearing grease. Furthermore, any such off-gassing under load will not increase the gas pressure in the first chamber containing the flywheel as it is separate from the secondary chamber containing the bearings.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a submission under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT / GB2010 / 050643 , filed Apr. 20, 2010, which claims priority to Great Britain Application No. 0906883.4 , filed Apr. 22, 2009, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a flywheel assembly. More particularly, it concerns control of the pressure within the housing of the assembly.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Flywheels are increasingly being used as compact power storage devices, particularly in vehicles. The flywheel is mounted in a housing, the interior of which is maintained at low pressure to minimise drag on the flywheel as it rotates. Whilst this low pressure environment can readily be achieved before sealing the housing, fibre composite materials are often used in the construction of high energy density flywheels which emit gas...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityPatents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): F16C15/00F16F15/16F16F15/315H02K7/02
CPCF16F15/3156Y02E60/16Y10T74/2126F16F15/30F16F15/315H02K7/08
InventorTARRANT, COLIN
OwnerWILLIAMS HYBRID POWER